FF: Almost Lovers (6): Teaser Pg 48 22/6 - Page 14

Geet felt the blood rush in her ear.

There were many flaws in Rehan's character but one thing that she knew with absolute certainty was that he didn't lie.

Rehan was unflinchingly honest, something that she had admired for a long time as much as it had bugged her as well.


So his words hit her sharply.


"What are you saying Rehan?" She demanded, "Don't speak in riddles! And don't lie about Maan to make yourself feel better"

Rehan stepped forward and grasped her shoulders, "Geet can't you see it! He had the media hound you, so that they could get a story about you two. He threatened and bribed my father into confirming the story. He told my father that he would destroy me and destroy any chance of my future, offering me scholarship to USA instead."


Geet's head started spinning in confusion and despair, "NO! Maan wouldn't do that! I don't believe you!"


"Listen to me Geet!" Rehan felt sharp pangs of guilt and pain as he saw the devastation in her face. "I only found out when I was trying to sort out the finances to my scholarship and saw who had arranged it. Then everything fell into place. I even found talked to the reporter who first got a whiff of your so called relationship with Maan and they told me that it was Khurana's secretary who had leaked the details! Geet he played us like puppets!"


For a second it seemed like Geet would break but instead she looked Rehan right in the eye. "I don't believe you. How can I trust someone who is so weak that they fold at the first sight of trouble. Why distrust Maan, when he has loved me and been with me? He never deserted me"

"I was a fool Geet, but don't let him win" Rehan entreated, "I might have been faithless but I would never have used you and manipulated you in that way. I still love you Geet. Just come with me, leave him behind!"

"You might love me but I love him" The words silenced the room for a whole minute, with Rehan struggling with her words and she struggling with what his comments. But she had to continue, "I love him Rehan. So I believe him. If you want to break us up, then I think you need to leave. There isn't anything I have left to say to you."


Rehan was about to reach for her but then stepped back, knowing that it was futile to make her believe. "If that is your decision, then there isn't anything I can do but to wait for you to believe me. All I can say that I will wait as long as it takes. It might be difficult for you to believe but the truth is that I will always want what is best for you."

With that Rehan walked away, leaving Geet in deep contemplation.

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Present



Maan felt rejuvenated after the conversation with Mohinder, a sense of hope lingering within himself.


He stood in her office, the center of Handa Construction, and could feel her presence all around him.
Right in the corner of her table was a collage of photos including one of their wedding day, and at the other end was her favourite fountain pen.


He lightly traced his fingers across her chair, feeling the leather that she had rested her head against.


"Sir" Geet's secretary entered the office stiffly, clearly not used to his new boss, "Here are the details for the Dream Homes project. The head of accounts feels that the project will require extended budget of another 3 million"


Maan shrugged, "They can use what ever it takes, I'll make sure that they get the funding. Just give me the papers to sign"


The poor secretary raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised at how relaxed the renowned Maan Singh Khurana was today but he didn't push his luck.


I'll fix your dreams, the ones I had broken trying to win you over. Even if it means that I'll drown in memories of you because I would rather love your memory than let go of you.

And then Mohinder's words echoed in his head, "It was all because she loves you"

Is it possible that she still loves me? That my actions haven't drowned away everything?


But then he stopped himself from these thoughts.


Don't think about being with her, instead think of how you can fix the pieces of what you have broken. Instead focus on being someone that she once thought you to be.


And there were parts of redemption that he would hate doing but now he knew that he could never change himself until those steps were taken.


So he knew he would have to go to the house that he had never thought that he would ever go, to talk to someone who would never expect him.


But then life had a weird way of evening the score.




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PAST


I believe him. Geet kept repeating in head, the words a mantra, I trust him. There is no one else who has stood by me with such sincerity. No one else who has loved me with such devotion.


Even as she walked into Khurana Mansion she could hear Rehan's words echo in her head. They wouldn't be silenced despite her belief in Maan.


"Geet!" Dadima smiled at Geet, "Get ready beti, the guests will come soon"


Geet blinked, waking herself from her reverie and gave a forced smile, "Sure Dadima. But can you tell me where Maan is?"


"He is in his room, getting ready" Dadimaa walked away, back to getting the party ready.


Geet run up the stairs, trying to control her heart but she knew that she wouldn't rest easy until she heard reassurances from Maan.


I believe him.


And there he was, standing in their room, putting on his cufflinks. As she entered his eyes automatically turned to her with a ready smile.


Without breaking stride, Geet walked upto him and put her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest.



Maan was pleasantly surprised and gave a soft kiss to her head, "I've never seen you so excited to see me before!"


Geet closed her eyes taking everything about him into her soul, "I just needed to be close to you for a moment."

"You can be close to me whenever you want" He rubbed her back in soothing circles, "I will always be here for"


Geet looked up and stared into his eyes. As she saw the honest love in them, she was reassured, knew that he would always be there for her.


On the other hand Maan saw the concern in her eyes for that split second and grasped her closer, "Geet did anything happen"


"Nothing" Geet smiled at him but then bit her lip. It was against Geet's nature to hide anything and she knew that it was important for Maan to know about Rehan, so she sighed, "Actually something did happen, Rehan came to my office"


Maan stiffened and Geet felt his muscles clench under her arms, "Rehan?"


Geet looked into Maan's eyes and brushed away his hair from his forehead, "He was saying some stories about you but I don't believe him" And for another second Geet was sad, "I would never believe that the boy I was best friends with lie to destroy me life"


But Maan wanted to know more, "What stories did he say?" He fingers dug into Geet deeper, as he waited for her answer.



Geet frowned in confusion, "He said that you utilized the media to create the story about us and also threatened his father into corroborating the story"


As her words left her lips, Geet suddenly felt a chill right through to her bones as he saw the shadowed look in Maan's eyes.

Slowly unclasping his arms from her, she took a step back, still staring right into his eyes. "Maan I told him that whatever he was saying were lies, that you would never do something like that to me"


Maan just kept on staring back at her, unable to lie to her at this moment.


"I told him that you loved me more than anyone else" Geet swallowed even as she felt her world breaking around her. But still she asked the words, despite trying to hold onto the last vestiges of hope, "Tell me that I was right and Rehan was wrong. Tell me that Rehan was telling me lies"


Maan reached out with his hands, "I love you Geet"


Geet took another step back, "Just tell me that they were lies and I will never think about it again."


Maan finally broke eye contact and his voice was echoing in Geet's ears, "They aren't lies. Rehan is saying the truth"


Geet felt such pain break throughout her that she shuddered. "No, please no!" she whispered hoarsely, but she could see the truth right in front of her.


"Please Geet" Maan begged, "It was all because I loved you"


Geet just shook her head and pushed his hands away, "No its not love! You can't love me! How can love do this? How can love hurt this much!"She walked backwards, even as he walked towards her, "I can't bear to see your face. I can't bear to be with you!"

With that she ran out the room.

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